Tag Archives: World War II letters

Personal Means of Locomotion (Roscoe)

: November 8, 1943 envelope

: November 8, 1943, p. 1

: November 8, 1943, p. 2

Letter transcription:

Lieut. R.S. Yegerlehner USNR
Navy 133 USN Base Hosp. #4
F.P.O. San Francisco Calif.
Nov. 8, 1943

Dear Mother,

It seems it’s about as hard to think of things to write from here as it was at the last place but I know if I can ever get mail from you it will be easier again.

There is a fellow here from Anderson Ind. that I had a chat with this Eve. I mean he chatted with me – His tongue was a little on the run away order and he did most of the talking. He knows a few people that I know so we did have a little in common.

Took another walk this P.M. Just a short turn around the valley – Not a long walk – about ¾ hr. all in all and I was about all in when we returned. You see I’m still not used to walking too much and here I don’t have a jeep like at the last place so must use my own personal means of locomotion. The roads are mostly black top so it’s much better walking than from cocoanut to cocoanut. The varieties of vegetation are so much more numerous here and really is beautiful this time of year with all the fresh green and also the various wild flowers. As time goes along I want to go on

[page 2] longer walks in order to see as much of the country as possible. The cities doesn’t don’t hold nearly as much for me as the country because they are somewhat like our own.

It seems I have a devil of time with shillings, pounds, etc., but possibly in time I’ll be able to carry on a transaction without feeling I’m being robbed. It’s almost a necessity to be able to use the money even in our own compound. Rumors have it that we will be paid that way but I rather doubt that.

I had an extra half strip put on my blue coat and it came to six shillings and I’m having the suit and rain coat cleaned & pressed and I thik think that will cost around 10 or 11 shillings. I think 6 shillings is about the same as one dollar but I’m not sure.

Well, Dear I hope your mail is getting thru to you better than mine is coming this way for it sure does seem a long time since I’ve heard from you but it’s still –

Lots of Love
Daddy

Map of New Zealand (via Wikipedia Commons)

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/05/31/personal-means-of-locomotion-roscoe/

Starter Offer (Gladys)

1 Reply

: November 8, 1943 envelope

: November 8, 1943, p. 1

: November 8, 1943, p. 2-3

: November 8, 1943, p. 4

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind.
Nov. 8 – 1943

Dear Daddy –

Yours of Oct. 31 & Nov. 1 in one envelope rec’d today. In one of your previous letters you omitted the Navy 133 so you may not get a few of those letters. I had the letter I wrote yesterday ready to go out but didn’t get it mailed so will put it in with this and add 133 to the envelope.

Winter is upon us in full force today. It isn’t so cold as it looks and sounds but chilly enough for a “starter offer’ for winter. The temp. in Chicago this a.m. was around freezing. It has been spitting a little snow, we have had a little sunshine, and lots of high wind.

Art Kenney finally got out to see me. He is in the Marines

[page 2] now. Was transferred to a Malaria control unit & wears the forest green uniform that looks more like an officer – (He is Petty O. 1^st Class now), than the white & blue middies. I think he likes the Marine uniform better than he did the other. He says they are getting ready to go out & is pretty certain it will be the S.W. Pacific. Wishes he had been sent on foreign duty right at first and have that much over with. Would like to see you out there if he gets out before you come back. However I think he would gladly forego such a pleasure to see you get home. He says the 18 mo. tour of duty for S.W. Pacific is correct. I hope I am not building upon that for a let down. He told me that a contingent of Marines that were first sent out are back in N.C. where he is stationed and that they were sent to New Zealand

[page 3] first before coming back here.

This is the first day this fall I have hung clothes in the basement but the weather is so uncertain outside (and too cold for me) that I did what I thought sensible. Last fall we hung things out until Thanksgiving day – which by the way is on your Birthday this year. You won’t get much from us this year for your birthday – we have all sent cards but you may not get them in time. I have a roll of film to finish taking – I thought I would take them for David’s 14^th mo. then send you the pictures. Maybe you will get them for Christmas. Anyway you know we are all wishing you a happy birthday.

I am having a little difficulty with John about wearing something on his head. No one else at school wears anything and he doesn’t

[page 4] want to either. I told him if he gets a cold & passes it around he won’t be very popular around here. Last year their coach told them to wear long underwear & he thought that was good advice – I wish someone like that would suggest headwear now. He did consent to wear his fingertip coat this morning. I asked him at noon how cold it was and he said “cold,” like it really was but says it’s not cold enough to wear anything on his head.

I hear Jimmy Staton – He must have been turned loose – It rained most all day yesterday so he had to stay in. I think Bobby must be out too. Jimmy, Bobby & Martha Zell make a trio. The Zell girls all are tomboys & can make as much noise anytime as boys.

Your letter came 6₵ due this am.
Love Mother

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/05/30/starter-offer-gladys/

Those Blasted Coconuts (Roscoe)

1 Reply

: November 7, 1943, envelope

: November 7, 1943, p. 1

: November 7. 1943, p. 2

Letter transcription:

Lieut. R.S. Yegerlehner USNR
USN Base Hosp. #4
Navy 133, F.P.O. San Francisco Calif.
Nov. 7, 1943

Dear Mother,

Sunday P.M. and I enjoyed a long walk with a couple of other officers. It sure was a relief to see something other than those blasted cocoanut trees and the rolling land is a little more interesting than at the last place. To see paved roads, trains, street cars and autos even thought they drive on the other sided side of the road is a relief which is hard to explain. And another thing, which is different than the above, is fresh milk. I often drink two glasses per meal which you know is unusual for me. All the above sounds more than somewhat like a kid and I’ll probably be “ranting” along those lines for some time.

Mail comes thru to this place about the same as other areas out here but due to this address shifting of mine I’ll probably be a few days behind. V-mail might be a little faster here that at other places but don’t write too much of it – just keep the ratio about as you have in the past. I certainly or should answer

[page 2] lots of letters but it seems about as hard to write from here as from my former home.

You should have that second bunch of flowers which I requested a fellow to send. I’m sure he will send them but I’m not sure of when he will be there. You probably have them by now – I hope.

I almost forgot – today while on that walk I saw some very beautiful Iris and Tulips in full bloom, and strange as it seems they look just like the ones we have back there even though they are about six months late.

I’m having my blue suit cleaned & pressed tomorrow and the extra gold put on the arm. There were no bugs in it but it sure was needed pressing. It’s really cold enough to wear them here and it is we are also required to wear them if we go into town in the Eve. Of course, so far I’ve had no business there but might take in a show now and then to help pass away the time.

Here’s hoping you and the kids are OK.
Lots of Love
Daddy

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/05/29/those-blasted-coconuts-roscoe/

Church Conference (Gladys)

1 Reply

: November 7, 1943, p. 1

: November 7, 1943, p. 2-3

: November 7, 1943, p. 4

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind.
Nove. 7 – 1943

Dear Daddy –

Sun. afternoon – It is cloudy & a little mist in the air. It has rained some during the day but now more of a dampness. We took David to Sunday School this morning & got along first rate. Mrs. Beekman was there with her little girl – who by the way behaved better than David. He did very well for him & first try but she was quieter. Dr. Beck the district Supt. was here today for quarterly conference & they had a dinner at the church. I came home after S.S. and gave David his orange juice & cod liver oil, put him to bed for a nap then prepared our dinner to take back to the church. After he woke up I fed him and by that time J. & M. had come home to help me

[page 2] so we went back for the dinner. I borrowed Lucile’s (Jimmy Ed’s) Taylor Tot to keep David in while we ate. He behaved pretty well. After the dinner Mark kept him in the car which I stayed in for the conference. John came on home to listen to the radio (music program).

David has been on a “tear” this afternoon. We came home about 2 P.M. I put him in his bed to take another nap when Mrs. Kendall came and he wouldn’t go to sleep but kept up an uproar most of the time she was here. He is in his pen now making some kind of noise. It is just one of those days.

I think you remember the Beekman’s. You treated one of them for colds. This Mrs. Beekman was working in Fords, had been some time, when one day not long ago she became very ill – that was about 3 P.M. – by 7 she was in the hospital

[page 3] and operated on soon after. She had a pregnancy in the tube and one in the uterice. The tube had bursted, but they had operated in time. Ruth Ford told me about it and said Dr. Ross said he had only had one case like it in all his practice. Mrs. Beekman is recovering very nicely and is now home from the hospital. The other Mrs. Beekman was the one at church this morning with her baby.

I believe this other coal makes more dust – which doesn’t surprise me but makes more dusting to do. In figuring according to what we burned last winter I think we will have enough to last us thru the worst of the winter if it doesn’t get too cold. I got 8 tons in July and that lasted thru until in Feb. when I had 4 tons put in and we easily have 2 ton of that yet. Of course this Ind. coal burns up faster and probably won’t last as long, as 2 ton of Va. coal would.

I called Dr. Ade yesterday for an

[page 4] appointment for eye examination & he couldn’t give me one until Nov. 16. I have been having headaches that feel like my eyes are the cause.

David is raising so much fuss I will have to quit and see what I can do for him.
Love Mother

©2015 copyright owned & transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/05/28/church-conference-gladys/

Settled Again (Roscoe)

1 Reply

: November 6, 1943 envelope

: November 6, 1943, p. 1

Letter transcription:

Lieut. R.S. Yegerlehner USNR
USN Base Hosp. #4
Navy 133, F.P.O. San Francisco Calif.
Nov. 6, 1943

Dear Mother,

Now that I’m settled again I should be able to write on schedule. At least I’ll try.

Things here are so much different than at the last place but in a short time everything should work out all right. The cold weather here is fine and after the initial shock I’m really going to enjoy it lots. Persons around here say that it is much warmer than a few weeks or months ago but it sure seems cold to me. In fact I’ve had the radiator turned on full blast in my room continuously.

Needless to say no mail has arrived as yet and I’ll be surprised if any does come for a week or 10 days. Your Oct. 10. Letter was the last I received and it came on Oct. 24 so I’m just about one month behind.

Yesterday I sent a cable to you – hoping it would be faster than any letter but I’m told that those are sometimes very slow so if this gets there first I’ll know not to cable anymore.

Living quarters, food, etc. here are the best I’ve had and I’m sure the work will be more pleasant but that remains to be seen. More about that later

Lots of Love
Daddy

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/05/27/settled-again-roscoe/

A Little Superior (Gladys)

1 Reply

: Novemer 6, 1943 envelope front

: November 6, 1943 envelope back

: November 6, 1943, p. 1

: November 6, 1943, p. 2-3

: November 6, 1943, p. 4

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind.
Nov. 6 – 1943

Dear Daddy –

No mail today but have had up to Oct. 31 this week so can’t complain.

This a.m. I rec’d $35⁰⁰ from Mrs. Reed – in full for that acc’t. I was a little surprised. She sent $10⁰⁰ some time ago, but I hadn’t tried to get the rest. I am a little short this month so was glad to get it now.

It was raining so hard this morning I took John to get his music lessons & went after him. It is cold, raining, a typical fall day. The boys were going to help the Zell girl rake their back yard and John wasn’t anticipating the job, so the rain was welcome by him. Our yard has been raked but still has leaves scattered on it.

Mark is working on the floors today. Someone’s heels make marks and the floors were looking dirty.

[page 2] I didn’t wax them the last time they were steel wooled but think I will this time. John is practicing on the piano. He doesn’t bring the oboe home – does that practicing at school. Since the band director resigned the students are doing their own directing so there won’t be much to the band this year I am afraid. Mark brought his horn home because the Jr. band won’t continue. I am thinking of all the new horns that were bought for that band that will sit idle now. I am glad now I didn’t invest in a new one for Mark. However if they get a director next year will give the idea consideration. David is taking a late nap. Wouldn’t go to sleep this a.m. when he usually does. He didn’t want to eat his dinner but I finally got enough down him to let him off. J. & M. think I should spank him when he rebels at meal time. I tell them he is different than they were. They have a saying, “If Daddy were

[page 3] here, you would get a spanking.” I don’t intend to spoil him but sometimes J. & M. think he should be spanked when I think not. However they are very fond of him and have lots of fun playing with him but don’t want him to be naughty.

–Mark was called to Zells to help Mr. Z. He is finishing the upstairs for a bedroom for their girls. Mark was delighted to get away from the job here. He was so slow I was ready to tear my hair. Isn’t it strange how good child will work for someone else? The work Mark had done was fine but he was so slow & had to stop so many times he wasn’t making much progress.

The family all noticed John’s voice changing. We were listening to a song on the radio last night that goes like this, “They are either too young or too old” – one line is about a young thing trying to serenade & his voice changing – John had a laugh over that. He says he

[page 4] doesn’t notice anything different about it, but we all do. Mark says John is going thru “that smart alec age” – He does get a little superior at times but not too much. I try to hold him down. Mark hasn’t changed so much – still as careless about everything as ever. He is a little better about his bike now but that is all. I scrubbed the furnace room the other evening. Both boys claimed they didn’t leave any dirt but there it was.

John was tuned in on Notre Dame & Army. We listened to the Army Coach & Grant Rice on the radio last nite so are anxious to know how it goes.

Love Mother

P.S. The game is over. Notre Dame 26-0. The announcer was telling what a beautiful fall day it is in N.Y. It is pouring here – as hard a rain as we have had in a long time.

Grantland Rice, c1966 (Image via the National Baseball Hall of Fame library)

Greetings (Roscoe)

4 Replies

[Editor’s note: Roscoe did not write on November 5, 1943, but he did send a ‘cable’ or telegram. This telegram has perplexed me for many months. Gladys wrote November 10th on it which was likely the day she received it. On the envelope is penciled 1942? Apparently, years later, she could not remember which year she had received it. On November 4, Roscoe left Auckland, New Zealand at 1530. He traveled by “rail” overnight. At 0825 on the morning of November 5, Roscoe arrived at his final destination – Wellington, New Zealand, his “travel completed.”]

: November 5, 1943 envelope

: November 5, 1943 Telegram

Raking Leaves (Gladys)

1 Reply

: November 5, 1943 envelope

: November 5, 1943, p. 1

: November 5, 1943, p. 2-3

: November 5, 1943, p. 4

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind.
11-5-43

Dear Daddy –

Yours of Oct. 24 & 25 came today – a little old after having Oct. 30 but appreciated just the same. It has cleared off & the sun is shining very bright. About time to hang up clothes this a.m. it got cloudy but I hung out clothes just the same so feel now like it was the thing to do. I don’t want to hang things in the basement yet. David is awake now after a short nap so I think I’ll get him ready to go out for some of this fall sunshine. He hasn’t been out yet today and likes to go out so well. – Have been out & gathered in clothes. It is very nippy in spite of the sunshine which doesn’t seem to warm very much. I suppose this sounds funny to you.

[page 2] I didn’t get this finished when I started and since have been to cosmopolitan club to Bergens to get a flower for Mrs. Plummer (the cake I baked was somewhat a flop as far as size was concerned so we ate it and got her a potted plant). I went to Plummers then to town to mail some things – I ordered those cold tablets for Marie & they came today so forwarded them to her. You remember I got some for them last year. Dave said he didn’t want to take them but Marie, Isla & Mrs. Mace take them. – While in town I stopped in the Restaurant. Saw Phyllis eating and asked her where Art was keeping himself. She said in Goodland & Monticello. He told Dorothy he was coming to see me but I haven’t seen him yet. Elsaleah isn’t teaching there this year. I don’t know who Phyllis goes around with now that Art & Elsaleah are gone. I see her a lot in the late afternoons when I happen to be in town.

[page 3] I noticed the latest group to enter the Army from this county includes Lowell Ford. He was the only one I knew out of five.

I slipped upon the town election. Saw in the paper that it was all G.O.P. but the entire vote was only 39 so I wasn’t the only one who didn’t vote. Link Trustee from first ward, Reed for Ward two and Harry White for W. three. Bob H. re-elected as Clerk Treasurer. I think the new Hufty baby will arrive sometime in Jan. I don’t know the Wilsons date but Doris has to wear maternity dresses now. Mrs. Gilmore has been ill and Lucile is home from Fla. She said this is the first time in 3 yrs she has been where it is this cold. However she said it felt good. She gets very tired of the weather down there – said it gets monotonous, warm all the time. Now I can’t imagine getting tired of warm weather – I really mean that, and you would so welcome some good vigorous cold snappy weather.

[page 4] Our boys & Zell’s girls finished raking our leaves this evening & burned them. They are going to rake Zell’s back yard tomorrow & pile the leaves on the garden. There were too many leaves to not rake. It is good to leave some on but not as thick as they were. I left them around the shrubbery in front and back too. We didn’t rake too clean – left some for fertilizer. Not all the trees have lost their leaves so with the winds we have will still have some.

So far the Ind. coal has been burning very well. It makes more clinkers but not bad. I scrubbed the furnace room last nite. Was afraid to sweep because of my irritated throat & sinus. At any rate the room is clean and without raising a dust. Jim cleaned the soot out of the furnace when he was here. I suppose it will need to be cleaned quite often with this new coal. At that I had to pay $7⁰⁰ a ton, so it is not cheap.

Must get this ready to mail.
“Love Mother”

Still Traveling (Roscoe)

1 Reply

[Editor’s note: Roscoe did not write on November 3, 1943 as he was traveling. He departed Noumea at 0700. This time he flew via Gov’t Air and departed from Tontouta airport. According to his personal Navy papers, he was a Priority Three South. He was limited to 65 lbs. of baggage. His destination was Auckland, New Zealand where he arrived at 1530. Roscoe departed Auckland at 1530 the following day (11/4).]

: November 4, 1943 envelope

: November 4, 1943, p. 1

Letter transcription:

Lieut. R.S. Yegerlehner USNR
Navy 133 USN Base Hosp. #4
F.P.O. San Fran Calif.
Nov. 4, 1943

Dear Mother,

You probably will note an unsteady hand to this writing since I’m practically a frozen mass. The transformation from there to here has been a decided one and I think as far as temperature is concerned a pleasant one as soon as I get accustomed to it. I’m still traveling but should be settled in a day or two. I missed writing yesterday but from now on should get back on schedule.

As yet I’m not sure of censorship so must be a bit on the non committal side until I find what the requirements and regulations are like.

My mail to you should come thru about as usual but due to that error of mine in giving you that incorrect address I’ll probably not get any mail for some time. At least I’ll keep writing.

Love Daddy

Pensacola (Gladys)

3 Replies

#WWIILetter transcription:

MRS. R.S. YEGERLEHNER
KENTLAND
INDIANA
11-4-43

Dear Daddy – Yours of Oct. 27 & 30 came today. Some service I would say. I haven’t seen any of Hickey’s family yet to tell them his hello! I am much relieved to get your last two letters and am anxiously waiting more. Hope you are getting mine right along. I wrote Lt. Palmer a thank you note for sending the flower order to Bergens. Some of roses are still pretty. The bouquet was red roses & white mums. I got two ton of Ind. coal and with what was in the basement think we will get along for a while – at least until after the first of the year. I am keeping the thermostat at 70 in this weather but will probably set it up when real cold sets in. We had a heavy frost last nite & the temp was 29. It is warmer now. I have clothes whipping on the line. David is “loose” at present walking around the furniture & walls having quite a good time. John & Mark are trying hard to get him to say words. It’s still mostly jabbering. He has another tooth which makes seven and another about thru. Dr. Van K. is back – He is retired from the Army so I image [imagine] will re-open his office here. The Myers twins have been sent to Pensicola, Fla. for final 3 months training. Do you remember we once thought of that station? We could dream couldn’t we?

Love – Mother